Reocrder system



July 6, 1954 J. F. scHocK RECORDER SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 INVENTOR. L/aH/v E `SCA/06A July 6, 1954 J. F. scHocK 2,682,798

RECORDER SYSTEM Filed Aug. 2o, 1945 4 sheets-sheer 2 O O O 4%f l ll|| II 1| ||1|| l1 I 1 H1 l I HH lll Hl I Il HH lll |1|| l r l l l Hl l HI 6(1)() 8?() IOIOO )500 2000 3000 5000 50000 I" l" lll Ill lll lll In nl lllmunlum nuns In au nu III lll lll III Ill lll lll In mili m m au nl nl JNVENTOR. lll lll m m m .n n dwf/v FSC/7fach ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 F, SCHOCK 2,682,798

RECORDER SYSTEM Filed Aug. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TFE- INVENTOR.

y" 56 656/ 'BY la@ 5'7 li Om? maal ATTORNEY July 6, k1954 J. F. SCHOCK RECORDER SYSTEM Filed Aug. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tiqf?.

INVENTOR. JOHN F c/oc/f Patented July 6, 1954 RECORDER SYSTEM John F. Schock, Philadelphia,y Pa.,.assignor.- to Leeds and"v Northrup Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a' corporation of Pennsylvania Application'AugustZl), 1945, Serial'No. 611,637

5/ Claims.

This. invention. relates to recorder systems,`

more particularly tothe provisionof a'system for.

thefsimultaneous recording of two variables .with

a single'stylus.v Thoughthefinvention is applicable forthe recordingY of -two variables wherever the need arises,` ithas been foundfthatit is particularly useful'in systems, for' measurement of cloud heights, ofthe type described in Electronic Industries, September 1943, at pages 90 et seq. In carrying outV the invention iny one form thereof; the transverse position of thestylus with respect'to a chart is determined by one variable, While the secondvvariableis utilized to move the stylus-at aniangle, the. extent of .angular movement ibeingrelated tothezthen existingy magnitude of the second variable..

For'afmorecomplete understanding ofthe invention andffor further advantages thereof, reference should-'now be had to thevfollowingfde` Fig. 3 illustrates `afpart of the actuating mech-- anismof the recorder in Fig. 2;

Fig., 4-is a plan view taken .onthezlinell--Jt-fof` Fig. 3; c K.

v Fig. 5is front elevatiomtakenonthe: line Fig. 6:is a -wiring Y`diagram of amodiiied 1form ofY 6 the.systemfapplicableto the mechanism of Fig..

3.; and

Eig 7 diagrammatically illustratesA anotherv modified form ofthey invention.

Referringtethe drawings, the invention in one formhas=beenrapplied to ay ceilometer for the measurement of the height oi clouds above a .ref-- erencelplane, .usuallyltheground.I This is accomplished by the vertical projection of., ay beam ofY radiant energy produced as by a mercuryA arc projectorl Il); The beam of lightor radiated energy is diiiusely reflected from clouds-but directly above the projector, as-on the cloud' II, will be` aspot or area-of maximumillumination. At. apredetermined distance from the projector I there is locateda detectorv or clinometer l2.

comprising aphotoelectric cell I3 carried in av housinglfl provided with suitable-means, such as ln'ses or mirrors, for directingreceived radiation to` the photoele'ctric" cellY I3.

Thehousing I4' is carried bya" shaft" I and; by 'means of an" arm I6-driven by a crank disc Il, is slowlyoscillated The crank. discY I1-is-driven through speed-reduction gearing baclcand forth through a angle.

ISI-byr a-motor.- I9.`

It Wi1lbe readily apparent' to those skilled in.

the art that theheight of the-cloud II may; be

determined directly from the angular position-of` Accordingly, a stylusf or` the clinometer I2. marker 2ilof a recorder 2I is synchronously drivenv with the clinometer'. I2: by# any suitable means;- such forfexampla as a-SelsynVy transmitter` 2'2 and a Selsyn receiver-'23; The latter, `asindicated by the broken line,V drives' a pulley which carries a violin string 2'4 to which the marker 2d. isattach'ed.- The marker 20 isthereby driven transversely'of. the record'sheet 3l. The

output from the-photoelectric cell v I 3' is amplified by-an ampl-iiier 25: The output thereof is applied? to. an electromechanical converter 26: labeled inv the drawing MechanicalRelay As-now devel# oped, the mechanical relay 2S preferablyy is'of'the type disclosed in 1U. S.1.Paten'ts l59353732a-SquibbA and 2,113,748--Ross et al. They relay 26de; ar:- range'dfto rotate through' linkage'Y 28:'thef rodY 29 on which the-pen carriage vslides in order'toproduce 'marks'disposed'at an'angleto the record'l and 2A; a record whichindicates not only theheightsy ofA clouds but also'the intensity of: the` radiation received by the photoelectric cell I3.

The ymercury arcprojector Ifin' general will be supplied.- With alternating.AV current having: a frequency of 60 lcycles `per second: Accordingly, the

lighter radianty energy will be modulated at a frequency of 1204 cyclesfpersecond. Bymeans.

of suitable iiltering circuits-in the amplifier 25 only: the 12C-cycle` current will be amplified.A Accordingly, theoutput ofthe amplifier 25 will' be limited solely to energy radiated fromthe projector IIiand kreceived by the photoelectric cell I3.

In the absence of clouds', the marker' 20,- as shown in Fig.Y 2,' Willvproducea series of dots, such as those embracedby the'lbrackety 33.- However, when clouds are present, eachdot willbe lengthened an' amount proportional to the increased-output of the photoelectric cell I3.y As

shown in Fig. 2, the recorderv sheet 3i moves downwardly. atasubstantially oonstantspeed. A typicalrecord hasbeen illustrated as starting at the lower right-hand side of the record sheet. At that time, the clinometer I2I would be disposed inthe vertical'position, ninety degrees from the position occupied when the marker 26 has been moved to the left-hand side of the record sheet. Theoretically, with the clinometer I2 in the vertical position, the height of the clouds in terms of the position of the clinometer would be of infinite height. As a practical matter, however, the scale has been graduated from to 50,000 feet.

As the clinometer is moved from the vertical position towards its horizontal position the marker is moved from the right-hand side of the chart toward the left-hand side. Since the radiation from the projector l0 will be diffused by clouds, the amount of radiation received by the clinometer I 2` will vary. As the clinometer views, or is directed towards, the fringe of a cloud, only a small part of the radiant energy from the projector I0 will be reflected to, and received by the clinometer I2. If the cloud is of the same density and color throughout, the radiations received by the clinometer I2 will gradually increase until the clinometer sees or is directed toward the area vertically above the projector I0, as shown in Fig. l. Thereafter, as it moves away from that area, the intensity of the radiation received by the clinometer I2 will decrease. Thus, referring to the lowermost record on the chart 3l, Fig. 2, a cloud has produced a record showing its height to be approximately '100 feet.

As best shown in Fig. 2-A, the maximum height of the clouds which produced the records 34, 35 and 36 appears along the vertical line 31 of the chart. In the record 38 the maximum height occurs at the vertical line 39.

As already stated, the angular position of the clinometer I2 may be directly translated into height. Accordingly, a scale 40 is provided, calibrated from 0 to 50,000 feet. The marker or pen 20 has a pointer 20a, which cooperates with the scale 40. A second scale 4I ranging from 0 to 100 has a pointer 42 arranged to indicate signal strength which will correspond with the length of each of the vertical records drawn on the chart by the pen 20.

BeforeV referring to Fig. 3, reference should be had to said Squibb Patent 1,935,732 and to said Ross et al. Patent 2,113,748, for a complete description of the preferred form of mechanical relay and recording apparatus. That relay and apparatus has been modified in accordance with the present invention. With an understanding of the apparatus disclosed by said patents, the

manner in which it has been modified in accordance with the present invention may be readily understood. In Fig. 3, the shaft -45 corresponds with the shaft 36 of said Ross et al. patent, while the shaft 46 of Fig. 3 corresponds with the shaft 30 of said Ross et al. patent. The shaft 45 is driven by a galvanometer-controlled clutch mechanism (shown in said patents) and modies the position of slidewire l-1l in accordance with deflection of the galvanometer. The slidewire 41 is connected in a potentiometer circuit of the type disclosed in Fig. 2 of said Ross et al. patent. The output from the amplifier 25 after demodulation is applied to a resistor connected in place of the thermocouples 56 of said Fig. 2. Thus, the slidewire 41 will at all times occupy a position related to the strength of the signal applied to the potentiometer network. Also secured to the shaft 45 is a driving pulley 48 around which is looped a Violin string 49. The violin string extends over idler pulleys 50-53. The pointer 42 is secured to and is driven by the violin string 49.

As the slidewire 41 is rotated, to position the pointer 42 in accordance with the intensity of the radiation received by the clinometer I2, a cam 54 carried by the shaft -45 is also rotated. It positions a cam follower 55 carried by a lever 56 pivoted at 51. The lever 56 carries a cam surface 60 for controlling the operation of a markeractuating lever 6I. Though the lever 56 may have any desired shape, the construction shown in Fig. 4 is preferred for application to the mechanism disclosed in said Squibb and Ross et al. patents.

The shaft 46 is rotated continuously. It carries a cam 62 on which there rides a cam follower 63 carried by the lever 6|. This lever is biased by a spring 64 for rotation in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 65. rlhe cam 62 synchronizes the operation of the pen 20 with the gal- Vanometer-controlled clutch mechanism; i, e., it permits a printing operation to occur only when the shaft 45 is stationary. When this occurs the cam 62 will be in a position to free the cam follower 63. The spring 64 thereupon rotates the arm 6I until a cam follower 66 engages the cam surface 60. Rotation of the lever 6I is transmitted by a link 61 to an arm 68, which is effective to move the pen carriage 69 in a plane parallel to the plane of Fig. 3. The pen 2l) is itself pivotally mounted in the pen carriage so that after the stylus engages the chart 3I further movement of the pen along the chart will occur upon further movement of the carriage 69. The extent of movement of the pen 20 along the chart is controlled by the position of cam surface 60 with respect to'the cam follower 66. When the output from the photoelectric cell I3 is a minimum, the mechanical relay will position the slidewire 41 and the cam 54 so that the cam surface 66 will be moved to a position for minimum movement of the cam follower 66. As shown in Fig. 2, that movement will be substantially zero. Therefore, the pen 20 will make dots on the record sheet 3l, as shown at 33. As the' signal strength increases, vthe pen 20 will draw lines whose lengths are related to the magnitudes of the signals. These lines are at an angle to the transverse movement of the pen 20 as produced by the Selsyn receiver 23. Thus, the pen movements between minima and maxima record the strength of the signal from the clinometer I2 for different cloud heights. The result is a record, Fig. 2, which forms a pattern from which may be readily determined the heights of cloud formations in the sky.

In the foregoing embodiment of the invention the pen 20 places a mark on the record sheet I for each cycle of operation of the mechanical relay 26, normally one every two seconds. Thus, with the clinometer I2 operated at a speed which requires six minutes for it to cover its ninetydegree scanning angle, some marks may be placed upon the record sheet for each movement of the pen from one side of the chart to the other.

It will be recalled that the radiation received by the clinometer I2 from a cloud normally increases to a maximum and then decreases. In case it is desired to place a mark upon the chart only at the approximate time of maximum intensity of the signal, a latch 10 may be rendered effective by attaching its spring 1I to a pin 12. The latch 1U, then biased into a notch 13 provided in the link 61, will prevent movement thereof until withdrawal of the latch by an electromagnet 14. The electromagnet 14 is under the control of switch 15 operated by the shaft 45 through a slip clutch 16. As best shown in Figs.

3 'and 4, vthe "clutch 'consists of two discs *11 :and 18 secured to the shaft 15 *and embracingfaldisc 19, Ifrom lwhich there extends 'a switch operating member *80. fSoilong as-the signal-from'the clinometer I2 is increasing vthe -shaft '45 -will be rotating ina direction to'maintain the contacts of the switch "in theopen position. However, whenthe `signal'beginsto decrease, the shaft Vt5 is rotated Vin 'the `opposite direction. Immediately, A'the slip clutch l1t moves theswitch -arm 80 to close the contacts of -the switch' 15. Thereupon the electromagnet l14 `isfen'ergized to rwithdraw'the latch l1li-to permit a-printing operation in'manner already described.

Referring to Fig. 6,'a'wiring diagramhas been illustrated for vthe control of the'electromagnet 14. The supply lines 82 and 83 will be assumed to be energized from a low voltage direct current source.

A relay 81E-is shown in thedeenergized position with its contacts V85 closed and its contacts 88 open. A timing relay 86 is provided tointroduce a time delay for the opening of its contacts, as indicated by the dashpot and the downwardly directed arrow. A second timing relay 81 is provided for additional time delay upon deenergizationthereof. The electromagnet 14 is under the control of the contacts Y88 of the relay 84 and the contacts of the time delay relay 81.

When the clinometer |2 is in its lower positions, i. e., vwhen its angle above the horizon is small, light or radiation from undesired sources sometimes interferes with operation. To eliminate such spurious signals, a threshold setter is provided so that the clinometer will only respond to signals received when the clinometer forms with the horizon an angle above a'predetermined size or magnitude. The threshold setter is operated by a knob 98, Figs. 2 and 6, which rotates a gear 9|, meshing with gear teeth 92 carried by, or formed in, a slidable bar 93. The bar 93 is pref erably located, above the Lpen 28. It carries a pointer 93a which, Fig. 2,r cooperates with the scale4l. Acontact 94 supportedfrom the pen carriageSS, Figs. 3 and 6, is `arranged to complete .a circuit upon .movement into engagement with the bar`83. Thus, as'the pen'28 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig-6, the contact 84 will engage the bar 93 to complete an energizing circuitfor the timing relay 85. This circuit may be 'traced vfrom the supplyline '82 by way of contacts 85, the operating coil of relay 88, conductor 95, contact 84, the bar 93 and by conductor 95 to the vothersupply line 83. Therelay 188 thereupon closes lits contacts to energize the `timing relay 81 which closes its contacts. By rotating the knob 98'the bar 93 may beset .in any Ydesired position. When moved to the extreme left, as viewed in Fig. 6, the circuit through the contact 94 and the bar 93 will be completed during the entire movement of the pen 28 and of the clinometer I2. With the vrelays .8S and -81 energized, .the electrcmagnet '14 will be energized as soon as relay 84 is energized by closure of anticipator switch 15. `Itwill'be remembered that this switch will close whenever the voltage or signal output from the clinometer reaches a peak and starts to diminish therefrom.

It'will nowbe assumed that this condition has been fulfilled and that the anticipator switch 15 has been operated to its closed position. The operating coil of the relay 84 will then be energized to open its contacts 85 and close its contacts 88 to complete the energizing circuit for the electro-magnet 14. As shown, this circuit is completed from separate supply lines 98 and "99. They may be connected to a suitable 'alternating current source or to a -direct 4current source. Upon completion of the aforesaid circuit, the electro-magnet 14 kmoves the latch A18 out Yof engagement with the link 61. The recorder may then be operatedto place a record on the chart. The location of the record will beindicative of the angle of the clinometer and of the height-of the cloud. The length of Athe'linelon thechart, under the control of the cam v |58, will 'be indicative of the strength of the signal.

It will be remembered that upon energization of the relay 84 the circuit through the contacts 85 was interrupted. However, the relay 86 does not immediately open the circuit for the coil of relay 81. After a suitable time delay, of the order of a quarter of alsecond,-the relay86 moves to the deenergized position. After another delay of around a quarter of a second, `the relay 81 moves to its deenergized position to interrupt the energizing circuit for the electromagnet`14. The latch 18 is then operated by the spring 1| again to lock the link 61. Though one timing relay may be utilized instead of the two illustrated, additional exibility is secured by providing both relays since both may be adjusted to provide any desired time delay. Also, relays having shortcircuited windings maybe used to provide the required time delay. YThe time delay yis provided to prevent a second printing or marking operation until the anticipator switch 15 has been opened and again closed. As shown thetiming relays 86 and 81 will not be energizeduntil the contacts 85 again close, upon deenergizationof relay 84 by the opening of switch 15.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 6, the length of each line or mark placed upon the record sheet is determined by the extent of `relative movement of the pen-28 with respect thereto. Instead of utilizing the relative pivotal movement between the pen '20 and its carriage 89 to place a mark of predetermined length-cn the chart, the arrangement of Fig. maybe utilized. As shown, an actuator |88 for=a stylus |8| is carried by va frame |82, itself slidably mounted on one or more rods |83. The actuator |88 may be a direct current motor,or it maybe an electrodynamometer of a character which will move the stylus |0| with respect to the-'chart 3| by an amount related to the strength-of the signals from an amplifier |85. In order to kproduce a mark on the chart 3| theoutput voltage from the amplier is-increased bymeans of a step-up transformer |86, one lead of vwhich extends to the'arm |01 which supports the stylus and the other lead of' whichextends to the shaft h'iand the roller |08 which supports the chart or record sheet 3|. The record sheet 3|, in accordance with'this form of the invention, comprises a voltage or current-sensitive paper of the type known tothe art under the trade name of TeledeltosL Such a paper has the characteristic of `yielding a-distinctive mark when current passes through it, as from-the stylus |8| to the conducting roller |89. 'To provide a at marking surface, a flat guide plate, not shown, extending rearwardly of the roller |89 may be provided beneath the record sheet 3| and-the stylus `|8|.

As described in connection with Fig. 1, the carriage |82 has secured to it the violin string 2A by means of which the Selsyn receiver 23 moves the carriage |82 across the chart as the clinometer I2 is moved between its horizontal and vertical positions. The output of the clinometer is connected directly to the input circuitV H of the amplifier 105. When the clinometer I2 sees a cloud, the radiation received therefrom produces outputl signals which after amplification move the stylus lill to produce angular marks lll on the record sheet 3l whose lengths are representatives of the magnitudes of the received radiation.

While preferred forms of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that further modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system of measuring cloud heights having a clinometer movable through a given scanning angle for translation of received signals into cloud heights, a recorder having a stylus, and means for driving a record sheet, the improvement which comprises means operable under the control of said clinometer for moving said stylus from one limit to another limit as said clinometer is moved through its scanning angle, releasable means for holding said stylus out of engagement with the record sheet, and means operable only upon decrease in the signal output from said clinometer or actuating said releasable means to release said stylus to produce a mark on the record sheet.

2. In a system of measuring cloud heights having a clinometer movable through a given scanning angle for translation of received signals into cloud heights, a recorder having a stylus, and means for driving a record sheet, the improvement which comprises means operable under the control of said clinometer for moving said stylus from one limit to another limit as said clinometer is moved through its scanning angle, releasable means for holding said stylus out of engagement with the record sheet means operable whenever the signal output from said clinometer changes from an increasing output to a decreasing output for actuating said releasable means to release said stylus to produce on the record sheet a mark of magnitude related to the magnitude of said output.

3. In a distance-measuring system including a transmitter and a receiver relatively and cyclically angularly movable with respect to each other for producing a signal representative of the distance of an object, the strength of said signal being dependent upon the character of said object and other factors, the combination of a recordei` provided with a record sheet movable in a predetermined direction, a stylus mounted for movement between predetermined limits of said sheet, means for cyclically driving said stylus between said limits in timed relation with said angular movement between said transmitter and said receiver so that the position of said stylus is at all times related to the angular position between said transmitter and said receiver, and structure including means responsive to a signal of varying intensity normally holding said stylus out of engagement with said chart and for actuating said stylus to produce a mark on said chart only when there occurs a reversal in the rate of change of the intensity of said signal, and means for regulating the extent of movement of said stylus to 8 produce a mark Whose length is related to the magnitude of said signal.

4. In a recorder having a stylus, a carriage for supporting said stylus, elongated supports for said carriage for establishing a predetermined path of movement, an actuating arm for rotating said elongated supporting member for rotating said carriage about an axis extending parallel to said predetermined path, means for driving a record sheet in a direction transverse of the path of movement of said stylus, said stylus'being movable into and out of engagement with said record sheet upon rotation of said supporting member, relative movement of said stylus along the chart in directions normal to said path occurring upon rotation of said supporting member beyond th-e position where said stylus first engages the chart, the combination of a cam for maintaining said actuating member in a position to hold said stylus in spaced rela-tion With the record sheet and for cyclically releasing said actuating mem-ber for movement of said stylus toward the record sheet, means for regulating the extent of movement of said stylus toward said record sheet comprising an element having an adjustable angularly disposed cam surface which in different positions will arrest movement of said actuating member in different angular positions to vary between minima and maxima the extent of movement of said stylus along said record sheet, and means responsive to the magnitude of a condition for adjusting the position of said angularly disposed cam surface for movement of said stylus while engaging the record sheet by an amount related to the magnitude of said condition.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which there is provided structure including a second means for holding said stylus out of engagement with said chart and means responsive to a reversal in the rate of change of the magnitude of sai-d condition for actuating said second means to release said stylus for production of a mark upon the chart having a length related to the magnitude of said condition attained upon said reversal in said rate of change thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,520 Marti Jan. 4, 1927 1,687,555 Gasiorowski Oct. 16, 1928 1,850,909 Bahney Mar. 22, 1932 1,873,126 Hugersho' Aug. 23, 1932 1,935,732 Squibb Nov. 21, 1933 2,113,748 Ross et al Apr. 12, 1938 2,351,081 Swift June 13, 1944 2,365,580 Muncek Dec. 19, 1944 2,504,126 I-Iowe Apr, 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 193,841 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1924 329,403 Great Britain May 22, 1930 OTHER REFERENCES Measuring Cloud Heights, Sept. 1943, page et seq.

Tubes Measure Cloud Ceilings for Pilots, Dec. 1944, page 194. 

